Pioneers of Power: Celebrating Black Leaders in Energy and Sustainability
Culture
Black History Month is more than just a time to reflect, but a chance to celebrate the humanity and contributions that generations of African Americans have made across American society.
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In the collective spirit of , 色中色 is proud to be an industry leader because of the contributions made by employees from a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds.
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While Black History Month offers the opportunity to remember and appreciate the great contributions to American society, it is also a chance for the energy industry to acknowledge and recognize African American contributions that have shaped our past and present.
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This year, we鈥檙e celebrating a select group of African Americans for their leadership, innovations and talents that shaped the energy industry. The impact of these leaders from both past and present continue to ensure a stronger, cleaner and brighter energy future.
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Lewis Latimer
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Lewis Latimer (1848-1928) was an inventor and expert draftsman who joined Thomas Edison鈥檚 lab in 1884. He is one of the in the electric light industry, seeing it from its infancy until it became a global feature. His work helped to improve Edison鈥檚 initial invention and patented the use of carbon filament that would open the door to widespread听public use. Latimer听听with Alexander Graham Bell to draft the patent for Bell鈥檚 design of the telephone until he was hired by the Edison Electric Light Company.听 Latimer also published a book titled Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System.
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Hazel O'Leary
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Hazel O鈥橪eary was the first woman and first African American to as the U.S. Secretary of Energy in 1993 with the Clinton administration. She also served in leadership roles for President鈥檚 Ford and Carter and was named assistant administrator for conservation and environment in the Federal Energy Administration听(FEA) in 1977. When the FEA joined the Department of Energy (DOE), she served as chief of the DOE鈥檚 Economic Regulatory Administration. Throughout O鈥檒eary鈥檚 time with the government, she worked to ensure funding, resources and innovation-focused energy policies that expanded efficient and renewable energy. Following her career in public service, she also听听as president of Fisk University, her undergraduate alma mater and a historically Black college.
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Lisa Jackson
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Lisa Jackson is the vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives at where she reports to CEO Tim Cook. Lisa has also served as the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the Obama administration from听2009 to 2013 and was the first African American to have the role. While at the EPA, she focused on听reducing greenhouse gases, authorized the recognition of听听as a public health concern and worked to increase outreach to vulnerable communities on environmental issues.
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Jessica O. Matthews
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Jessica is the founder and CEO of听, an award-winning power solutions company that works to reduce the cost burdens of developing smart and sustainable infrastructure. The company was founded by Jessica when she was 22 years of age. In 2016, her Series A offering set a historic record for funding by a black female founder. As a trailblazer, her name听is featured on 12 patents and patents pending 鈥 including her first invention of the SOCCKET, an energy generating soccer ball that she invented at the age of 19. She was also appointed to the Electricity Advisory Committee by Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm under the Biden Administration where she听听to ways to modernize the U.S. electric delivery system.
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